Behaviourist Approach Flashcards
What are the 3 assumptions of a behaviourist that link to research methods?
1) the principle of learning is the main goal
2) animals can be used as research subjects as what is true for them should be true for humans
3) only measure physical behaviour through the method of lab experiments and are not concerned with processes of the mind
Why are animals used as research subjects?
It is practical as animals are easy to keep and there are no demand characteristics
What is the behaviourists approach also know as?
The learning theory
When and where did it start?
America in the 1900’s
What was the behaviourist approach inspired by?
John watson’s ideas
What are the 3 main assumptions?
Nearly all behaviour is learnt but there is evidence to show that genetics can play a role
Animals and humans learn in the same way- through the stimulus and response association e.g how a cat uses a cat flap or learning to drive
The persons mind is irrelevant- we cannot observe a persons thinking only measure physical behaviour
What is classical conditioning?
Learning by association. Occurs when 2 stimuli are repeatedly prepared together- an unconditional stimulus and a neutral stimulus. The neutral stimulus eventually produces the same response that was first produced by the unlearned stimulus
What did Pavlov notice which encouraged him to do an experiment?
Pavlov was studying how a dogs saliva helps them digest food when he noticed that dogs salivated before they were given food- they associated food with another stimulus such as a door opening
What was Pavlov’s experiment?
Pavlov gave dogs food and rang a bell. He repeated this several times. They he rang the bell but presented the dogs with no food. The dogs still salivated
What was Pavlov’s conclusion?
When dogs see food they salivate. An unconditioned stimulus gives an unconditioned response, the bell became a conditioned stimulus and salivation became a conditioned response
What is operant conditioning?
A form of learning where behaviour is shaped and maintained by its consequences
What did skinner look at?
How animals learn from the consequences of their actions. There were two possible consequences: positive reinforcement and negative reinforcement
What was the skinners box experiment?
Put a hungry rat in a box. It would run around until it accidentally pressed the lever which would release food. The time taken for the rat to realise that pressing the lever would realise food was recorded demonstrating the effect of positive reinforcement
What is positive reinforcement?
When something desirable is obtained in response to doing something e.g giving a sticker to a well behaved child to encourage future good behaviour
How did skinner test negative reinforcement?
The rat could prevent an electric shock when it realised that when the stimulus of the light was on, pressing the lever would result in an electric shock
